This most recent Presidential Debate, which was Oct. 22. Moderated by Kirsten Welker, co-anchor of NBC’s “Weekend Today” and the NBC News White House Correspondent.
COVID-19
The debate opened with Welker informing the audience and the debaters that 16,000 Americans have died since the last debate, sparking a discussion about COVID-19. Trump claims that a vaccine is coming and he knows this because he was recently hospitalized with COVID. Trump states that he was given what was very similar to a “cure” that should be distributed soon. He also named Regenron and Johnson & Johnson as companies working on vaccines. Claiming that, “99 percent of people have recovered.”
Biden emphasized that 220,000 Americans have died of covid and that, “anyone responsible for that many deaths should not be president.” Biden claims that if he were elected he would enforce stronger implementations towards wearing masks, national standards, and rapid testing for covid. Biden referred to the coming season as a “dark winter,” as there is no clear prospect for a vaccine. In reference to the Obama administration’s involvement with the H1N1 flu in 2009, Trump argued that it could not be compared to his handling of COVID-19, as it was much less lethal. On masks, Trump argued that Anthony Fauci initially discouraged the use of masks and has since changed his perspective on the issue, encouraging the use of masks at all times.
The largest point of discussion between the two candidates was Trump’s refusal to close the national to allow for recovery from Covid-19. Trump argues that the nation cannot be closed as it would be detrimental. He also stated that he initially closed travel between China in late January and was criticized for this as it was seen as xenophobic. Biden argues that this was in fact done from a place of xenophobia and that he was involved in finding the source of the virus in China, while Trump was not. In regards to closing the country, Biden argues that this should be done in an attempt to modify things in order to open safely. He also reminds the audience that there was government money issued for this purpose, and has not been used for such.
Russia and Iraq’s Interference with the Election
Welker then asks about Russian involvement in the election, as there have been reports that Russia and Iran have attempted to sway the results of the election. This resulted in one of the funnier moments from the evening when Trump claimed that Biden took $3.5 million from the Russian government and Biden looks visibly shocked and confused by his claim. Trump argued that he, “Never got any money from Russia,” and that, “there hasn’t been anyone tougher on Russia than Donald Trump.” When asked about how he would prevent Russian involvement, Biden stated that anyone interfering with an election will pay the price, as it is interfering with American sovereignty.
Taxes
The topic of taxes also came up, as Trump has yet to release his taxes. Biden argues that Trump should, as Biden has released all 22 years of his taxes, while Trump continues to claim he has received money from illegal outside sources. Trump claims as soon as the election is over he will share his taxes. Trump also claimed, “I prepaid tens of millions of dollars [in taxes].” Referring to it as an estimate and that the $750 that he seemed to have paid was just a filing fee. Trump contended he was treated poorly by the IRS and that, “no president should have to go through what I went through.”
North Korea
The debate then shifted to discussions about North Korea. Trump touched on a conversation he had with Obama while he was still in office where Obama said the biggest threat to the United States was North Korea. Trump argued that he was left with a dangerous relationship with N. Korea and he was able to recover it through his personal relationship with Kim Jong Un, which has prevented a potential war with N. Korea. Trump also mentioned that Kim Jong Un would not meet with Obama, to which Biden responded that this was because Obama refused to meet with him unless he shut down his nuclear capabilities. This was because denuclearization was such an important issue to Obama and Biden.
Health Care
Welker brings up the issue of healthcare and the Affordable Care Act. “20 million Americans get their insurance through the affordable care act,” Welker stresses. Trump, who does not lean in favor of the Affordable Care Act, highlights that he terminated the individual mandate within the Affordable Care Act. The individual mandate is the aspect of the act that has people who do not qualify for Medicaid, because they have private insurance, to pay a tax which allows those who do qualify for Medicaid to receive insurance. Trump calls the Affordable Care Act, which he refers to as Obama care, as “Not good.” He states that he wants to create a better healthcare system than Obama care and intends to keep pre-existing conditions in his new system. Biden wants to keep the Affordable Care Act, however, he’s going to adjust it to what he jokingly calls, “Biden care.” He says he will make it public opinion as to whether or not the individual mandate is included and if someone does not qualify for Medicaid but does not have the ability to get it within their state they are automatically included. He also includes the adding of reduced premiums and drug prices and states his support of private insurance, reassuring the audience that no one with private insurance would lose their insurance. Biden also argues that 10 million people have lost their private insurance under Trump’s administration. There are 110 million people living in the United States with pre-existing conditions, such as people who have recently contracted COVID, and Trump has no plan to deal with pre-existing conditions under a new healthcare system.
Poverty/ Job Loss
Welker presented the candidates with some results of covid. There are 12 million people out of work and 8 million people who have fallen into poverty, women and people of color hit the hardest. Trump argues that Nancy Poloski, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, will not approve a relief bill for schools and businesses on the grounds that she does not want to approve anything under Trump. “We are ready, willing, and able to do something,” Trump claims. Biden pushes back saying the Republican leaders in the Senate will not pass a relief bill and that the Democrats already passed a relief bill at the beginning of the summer.
Minimum Wage
When discussing possible raising of the minimum wage, Biden strongly affirms that he will raise the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour. “Anything below that puts you below the poverty level,” argued Biden. Trump insists that if the minimum wage were to be raised it would only hurt businesses already in need of relief.
Immigration
The government cannot locate more than 500 children being held at the border’s parents. On the topic of illegal immigration Trump claimed, “We now have a stronger border than we ever have.” He also stressed that the only way to enter the country is legally and that he is working on plans to reunite kids with their families. However, in reference to the children whose parents cannot be located, Trump argued that many children enter the country through cartels, coyotes, and gangs. Biden’s plan to fix this issue would be to send a bill to Congress within his first 100 days in office that would act as a pathway to citizenship for over 11 million undocumented kids living in the United States or at the border right now.
Race in America
Welker introduces the topic of race in America by describing “the talk,” that many black parents are forced to have with their children. This being the discussion of race in America and how people of color are marginalized, specifically by the police. Welker asks the candidates to speak directly to these families about the issues of race in our country and what they are going to do about it. Biden talked about his daughter, who was a social worker, and his time working on the East Side of Delaware, which was a predominantly black community. Biden argues that there needs to be better economic opportunities, education and school, health care, and ability to take out loans for people of color. He stated that he has a clear plan laid out that will also allow for the accumulation of wealth for people of color. Trump pushed back by saying that in 47 years in politics Biden has never done anything for racial issues in America. “No one has done more for the black community than Donald Trump, with the exception of Abraham Lincoln, possibility,” Trump stated. He says he is pushing for criminal justice and prison reform.
Climate Change
Welker asked the two candidates how they would create job growth and environmental change at the same time, without decreasing the number of jobs. Trump has previously stated that environmental regulations hurt jobs in the energy sector. Within the debate he argues that the United States has the cleanest water, cleanest air, the lowest number in carbon emissions, and best carbon emission number in 30 years under his administration. He cited China, India, and Russia as examples of bad environmental states. He also references removing the U.S. from the Paris Accord, which he explains by saying it would have hurt our industries and businesses and that we would have sacrificed trillions of dollars in the process. He concludes by saying that his administration has done an incredible job environmentally. Biden initially states that climate change and global working are an existential threat to humanity and that we have a moral obligation to fix it. He reminded the audience that Trump got rid of all the regulations that the Obama administration put in place. Biden introduces a plan that he has made for environmental reform. He states that the Environmental and Labor Organization are in support of his plan and that it will provide millions of new well paying jobs. An example of the changes put in place under his plan was to implement 50,000 charging stations on our highways, allowing the U.S. to own the electric car market. Under his plan, Biden argues that he can create millions of jobs and a clean environment.
As the debate ended the two candidates pushed to have their final opinions known by the audience. However, overall, the two showed more respect for each other’s statements in this debate than the last and were able to express their views on many issues important to the American people right now. While there is no clear winner to the debate, we will have to wait to see the state of things on Nov. 3.